'Having No Job for a While in Mumbai Took a Toll on Me': Sanya Malhotra

Sanya Malhotra shares her journey from 'Dangal' to 'Love Hostel.'

Sanya Malhotra gets candid in an interview with The Quint

Photo: The Quint

Sanya Malhotra is known for her phenomenal performances in all her films. From her acting debut as Babita in Dangal to the dynamic Jyoti in Shanker Raman's Love Hostel, Sanya has excelled in a variety of roles.

The Quint spoke to the actor about her journey in the film industry, how a Delhi-girl moved to Mumbai alone to pursue her dreams, how she got her first audition, and more.

Sharing her initial career plans, Sanya shared that her 'Plan-B' was to become a choreographer. "It was tough for my mother to explain to her friends back in Delhi that I wanted to be an actor. So she told all them that she had gone for dance auditions," she added.

The Ludo actor further spoke about her struggles in relocating from Delhi to Mumbai to make her career in Bollywood. "Mumbai definitely felt much safer than Delhi but was also extremely expensive at the same time".

"I remember not buying fruits, or dry fruits because I didn't want to ask my parents for money. I was the only one without a job, so it really used to take a toll on me."

Sanya, added.

Speaking of the comparisons made between her and Fatima Sana Shaikh, the actor said,

"We never felt that there was a competition or any comparison. Other people like to talk about how women work in this industry, but things are definitely changing. I admire Fatima's work. She inspires me and motivates me."

Sanya will soon be seen in the role of a cop in debutant director Yashowardhan Mishra's Kathal, starring alongside Anant Joshi in the film. The Netflix Original is a female-centric dramedy, and it will be available for streaming from 9 December 2022 on the OTT platform.

Video Editor: Arnab Chakravorty.

Location Courtesy: Silver Beach Cafe, Lokhandwala, Mumbai.

(This interview is from The Quint's archives and is being published on the release of Sanya Malhotra's film 'Hit: The First Case' alongside Rajkummar Rao.)